Office of the Special Investigator (OSI)

The Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) is the Australian government agency responsible for investigating allegations of war crimes committed by Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016. The OSI was established following the Brereton Report, which detailed credible evidence of unlawful killings and other serious misconduct. The OSI is newsworthy due to the recent arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most-decorated living soldier, on charges related to alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. Roberts-Smith's arrest follows a defamation case he lost against journalists who reported on his alleged involvement in the murders of unarmed Afghan men. He is expected to face court on multiple counts of murder. The OSI's ongoing investigations and prosecutions are significant as they address serious allegations of misconduct by ADF personnel and aim to ensure accountability for potential war crimes.